Welcome to Number 16, the fun website that is all about words, language and literature. It is named after my favourite number. I am Joanne Madden and I'm from Toronto, Canada. To find out what I have written on any topic, use the search box directly below. For TV trivia, please check my other website, TV Banter (www.tvbanter.net).

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Saturday, December 25, 2010

For unto to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

Here are some notable Christmas Day births and deaths.

CHRISTMAS DAY BIRTHS

Hotel mogul Conrad Hilton was born on December 25, 1887 in Socorro County, New Mexico Territory, U.S. From 1942 to 1946, he was married to Zsa Zsa Gabor. Hilton died in Santa Monica, California on January 3, 1979. He was 91 years old.

Humphrey Bogart, one of my favourite actors, was born on Christmas Day, 1899. Bogie was born in New York City, the son of a Manhattan surgeon and a prominent magazine illustrator. He died of cancer of the esophagus on January 14, 1957 at the age of 57 in Los Angeles.

Robert L. Ripley, cartoonist and creator of Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, may have been born on Christmas Day. There is some confusion about the date of his birth. We do know that he was born LeRoy Ripley in Santa Rosa, California in 1890. Some sources list his date of birth as December 26 while others list it as December 25. There has been some speculation that the eccentric Mr. Ripley may have changed it himself to Christmas Day.

Robert Ripley died in New York City on May 27, 1949, three days after suffering a heart attack during the broadcast of the 13th episode of his Believe it Not! television series. The theme of the episode was death and death rituals. It featured a short sketch about the background of the famous bugle call Taps (also known as The Last Post). Near the end of the program, during the playing of Taps, Ripley passed out on the floor. The show was not yet over, but Ripley could not continue.

Singer Jimmy Buffett was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi on December 25, 1946. He celebrates his 64th birthday today.

Actress Sissy Spacek also celebrates a birthday today. She was born Mary Elizabeth Spacek on Christmas Day 1949 in Quitman, Texas. The 1980 Oscar winner for Best Actress (Coal Miner’s Daughter) turns 61 years old today.

Baseball’s Rickey Henderson was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 25, 1958. During his major league career, Henderson turned stealing bases into an art form and was one of the game’s greatest lead-off batters. He played on the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays World Series championship team. Happy 52nd birthday, Mr. Henderson!

Country singer Barbara Mandrell was born in Houston, Texas on Christmas Day in 1948. She is 62 years old today.

Two sons of the late former Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, were born on Christmas Day. Justin Trudeau, who is a Member of the House of Commons for a Montreal riding, was born in Ottawa, Ontario on December 25, 1971. He turns 39 years old today. Justin’s younger brother, Alexandre (Sacha) Trudeau was also born on Christmas Day in 1973, also in Ottawa. He celebrates his 37th birthday today. Alexandre is a filmmaker and journalist.

CHRISTMAS DAY DEATHS

French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, founder of Quebec City and “Father of New France”, died on Christmas day in 1635.

Singer James Brown, known as “The Godfather of Soul”, died on December 25, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. He died in an Atlanta hospital after suffering from pneumonia. He was 73 years old.

American actress and singer Eartha Kitt passed away on Christmas Day in 2008 at the age of 81. She died of colon cancer. Born Eartha Mae Keith on January 27, 1927 in the small town of North, South Carolina, Orson Welles gave her her first starring role in as Helen of Troy in his stage production of Dr. Faustus. Welles described her as “the most exciting girl in the world”. Eartha performed the Christmas song, “Santa Baby”. To watch a video of Eartha singing Santa Baby in 1953, click on the link below.

Baseball's flamboyant Billy Martin died in a one-car accident on December 25, 1989 in New York State, near his farm in farm in Port Crane in the Town of Fenton. Martin and his friend, William Reedy, were in a pickup truck. Billy Martin was 61 years old.

Six-year-old beauty queen, JonBenet Ramsey, was murdered on Christmas day in 1996. Her body was discovered in the basement of her parents’ Boulder, Colorado home. The shocking crime created a media frenzy and the tabloids had a field day.

Singer and comedian Dean Martin died in Beverly Hills, California on Christmas Day in 1995. Dino was 78 years old.

A Merry Christmas to one and all from Number 16 and all the best during this holiday season.

NUMBER 16: FEATURED PHOTOS AND ART

TODAY IS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2019.

CLIMATE CRISIS: TIME IS RUNNING OUT. THE AMAZON RAINFOREST ON FIRE, HURRICANE DORIAN, WHAT NEXT?

Climate change is real. It is not a hoax. It has been scientifically proven. The world must come together and deal with it decisively before it is too late. The hurricanes, floods and wildfires are becoming more frequent and more destructive. The clock is ticking. (Click on image above).

DONALD TRUMP

The United States and the rest of the world cannot afford another four years of this man. Return America to decency. The Oath of Allegiance is to the United States, not to Trump. Americans, if you are undecided, don't vote for another four years of racism, locking kids in cages, misogyny, lying, bullying, gun violence, criminality and obstruction of justice, harming the environment and ignoring climate change, no minimum wage increases for workers, no health insurance for millions and tax breaks for billionaires..

About Me

I am a native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For many years, I worked as a researcher and archivist at the Toronto Star, the largest newspaper in Canada. I like to share my interest in trivia, television, current events, politics, movies, quotes etc.